Jacob Meets Rachel
1 Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the descendants of the east. 2 He looked, and there was a well in the field, and he saw three flocks of sheep lying there beside it, for from that well they watered the flocks. The stone on the wellâs opening was large. 3 There all the flocks were gathered. They rolled the stone from the wellâs opening and watered the sheep and put the stone back on the wellâs opening in its place. 4 Jacob said to them, âMy relatives, where are you from?â
They said, âWe are from Haran.â
5 He said to them, âDo you know Laban, the son of Nahor?â
They said, âWe know him.â
6 He said to them, âIs all well with him?â
They said, âIt is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep.â
7 He said, âIt is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water the sheep and go and feed them.â
8 They said, âWe canât, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the wellâs opening. Then we will water the sheep.â
9 While Jacob was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her fatherâs sheep, for she kept them. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his motherâs brother, and the sheep of Laban, he went near and rolled the stone from the wellâs opening and watered the flock of Laban his motherâs brother. 11 He kissed Rachel and raised his voice and wept. 12 He told Rachel that he was her fatherâs relative and that he was Rebekahâs son, and she ran and told her father.
13 When Laban heard the news of Jacob, his sisterâs son, he ran to meet Jacob and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things.
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
14 Laban said to him, âSurely you are my own flesh and blood.â Jacob stayed with him for a month. 15 Laban said to Jacob, âBecause you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?â
16 Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah’s eyes were tender, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive. 18 Jacob loved Rachel. He said, âI will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.â
19 Laban said, âIt is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.â
20 Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.
21 Jacob said to Laban, âGive me my wife that I may sleep with her, for my commitment is fulfilled.â
22 Laban gathered together all the men of the place and gave a feast. 23 In the evening, he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob slept with her. 24 Laban gave Zilpah his servant to his daughter Leah as a servant. 25 Then morning came and behold, it was Leah! He said to Laban, âWhat is this you have done to me? Didnât I serve you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?â
26 Laban said, âIt is not the custom of this place to give the younger daughter before the firstborn. 27 Fulfill the wedding week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will provide me with for seven more years.â
28 Jacob agreed, and completed Leah’s week, and Laban gave Jacob his daughter, Rachel, as his wife. 29 Laban gave Bilhah, his servant, to his daughter Rachel to be her servant. 30 Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. He served Laban seven more years.
Reuben, Simon, Levi, and Judah
31 The Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 Leah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, âBecause the Lord has looked at my affliction, for now my husband will love me.â
33 She conceived again and bore a son and said, âBecause the Lord has heard that I am unloved, he has therefore given me this son also.â She named him Simeon. 34 She conceived again and bore a son. She said, âNow this time my husband will be attached to me because I have borne him three sons.â Therefore he was called Levi. 35 She conceived again and bore a son. She said, âThis time I will praise the Lord.â Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.